Dog-type recoil actuated auger

ABSTRACT

A dog-type recoil actuated auger enables holes to be drilled by using only straight line motions of a person&#39;s hand, arm, and shoulder. The recoil actuated auger is comprised of a recoil drive system connected to a shaft, which in turn is connected to an auger. The recoil drive system has a recoil mechanism that imparts unidirectional rotation to the auger in response to bidirectional rotation of the recoil mechanism. The recoil mechanism may have dogs that engage a drive cup, or clutch bearings, to unidirectionally rotate the auger. The recoil drive system has a handle that the person grasps during operation. Operation is achieved by pulling a rope wound around a rope wheel. A recoil spring rewinds the rope after a pulling motion. Multiple recoil mechanisms assembled to the shaft and a suitable handle enable more than one person to operate the recoil actuated auger at the same time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Invention

The present invention pertains to manually operated augers, and more particularly to apparatus that uses a straight line manual motion to rotate an auger.

2. Description Of The Related Art

Augers for drilling in ice and earth are well known and in widespread use. Augers typically include a center shaft. A helical band with a cutting edge at one end surrounds the center shaft. Rotating the center shaft causes the cutting edge to cut into the ice or earth. The helical band pushes the cut material away from the cutting edge to make a hole.

Some prior augers were manually driven. Manual augers were usually light weight, fairly inexpensive, and relatively easy to carry. An example of a prior manual auger, which uses a crank and gear mechanism, may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 1,294,098. U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,735 shows a foot powered auger. Perhaps the classic example of prior manual augers is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,393,282; 2,476,047; 3,051,253; 3,929,196; and 5,038,870. Those five patents each show an offset handle connected to an auger center shaft. A person grasped the handle with one hand and steadied the auger with the other hand. The person exerted his shoulder and arm muscles to produce a circular motion with his first hand, thus turning the handle and the auger.

When using a manual auger with an offset handle, multiple combinations of forces had to be generated by the person for each revolution of his hand. Specifically, a first force was generated to pull the hand in a first motion toward his body. Then the handle was forced across the front of the body in a second motion. Then, the person had to push the handle away from his body in a third motion. Finally, the person forced the handle across the front of his body in a fourth motion opposite the second motion. The process was repeated for each revolution of the handle and auger.

Because of the nature of ice and earth, considerable effort was required to drill holes with offset handle augers. Ergonomically, it was very difficult for most people to perform three of the four handle motions. The only motion that most people could complete with ease was the first motion of pulling the hand toward the body. That was a fairly natural motion during which most people could generate the maximum force with their arms and shoulder muscles. In general, younger, older, and other persons without adequate strength could not easily use the prior manual augers.

To ease the task of drilling in ice and earth, power driven augers have been developed. A common power source was a gasoline engine that connected to the auger center shaft. Some augers were powered from remote locations by suitable transmissions. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,710,877; 3,828,861; and 4,116,284 illustrate different kinds of remote power sources and associated transmissions. Japan patent application number 1998000220506 teaches an auger powered by a motor and assembled to the end of a crane boom.

There are several disadvantages associated with power augers. In addition to being undesirably expensive, they are heavy and awkward to carry. The engines are subject to environmental standards, including emission controls and anti-noise ordinances. A related problem concerns the odors emitted from the engine, which is only an arm's length from the user's face. The noise and emissions make it an unpleasant task to drill holes with power augers. Moreover, power augers develop high torque, so safety is a major concern.

Thus, a need exists for improvements in ways to operate augers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a dog-type recoil actuated auger is provided that requires a person to exert only straight line motions of the person's hand, arm, and shoulder to operate. This is accomplished by apparatus that includes a recoil mechanism that imparts unidirectional motion to an auger.

The auger has a shaft and a helical band around the shaft. A working end of the helical band at the auger shaft first end is sharpened. A second end of the auger shaft is connected to the recoil mechanism. The recoil mechanism is part of a recoil drive system that also includes a housing and a handle.

According to one aspect of the invention, the housing is comprised of a flat plate and first and second tubes all concentric with the auger shaft. The first and second tubes are joined by a transverse annular disk. The first tube receives and rotatably guides the auger shaft. The second tube receives a drive cup of the recoil mechanism. The drive cup has an annular wall, and an end wall that is fixed to the auger shaft. A washer separates the drive cup end wall from the housing annular disk. A collar on the auger shaft adjacent the first tube cooperates with the drive cup to capture the auger shaft to the recoil drive system housing. In the drive cup annular wall are a number of circumferentially spaced openings.

The recoil mechanism further comprises a cover that is secured to the housing plate. The cover contains a rope wheel that is rotatable about a cover pin. A rope is wound around the rope wheel. The rope terminates in a pull handle that is on the outside of the cover. A recoil spring biases the rope wheel to rotate in a first direction such that the rope pull handle is against the cover, which limits the rotation of the rope wheel in the first direction and establishes a wound position for the rope wheel. Manually pulling the rope pull handle rotates the rope wheel in a second direction and unwinds the rope from the rope wheel.

A pair of dogs are pivotable on associated rope wheel posts between working and retracted locations. When in their working locations, the dogs engage associated openings in the drive cup annular wall. The dogs are in their retracted positions when the rope wheel is at its wound position under the bias of the recoil spring and the rope pull handle is against the cover.

To pivot the dogs from their retracted locations to their working locations, they are designed to contact first surfaces of a cam that oscillates on the cover pin. An initial pull on the rope pull handle in a pull stroke rotates the rope wheel but does not turn the cam. After the rope wheel has rotated through a few degrees, the dogs contact the first surfaces of the stationary cam. Upon contacting the cam, the dogs pivot to their working locations under the impetus of the continually rotating rope wheel. Continued pulling on the rope causes the drive cup, cam, and auger shaft to rotate together with the rope wheel. At the end of the pull stroke, the rope is released, under control. The recoil spring turns the rope wheel, but initially not the cam, in the opposite direction and rewinds the rope onto the rope wheel. That action also causes the dogs to contact second surfaces on the stationary cam and pivot the dogs back to their retracted locations. The dogs therefore disengage from the cup wheel. From that point, the rope wheel, together with the cam, rotates back to its wound position, but without imparting any rotation to the auger shaft. The cycle is repeated as often as necessary until the auger has drilled the desired hole.

It is a feature of the invention that the auger may be disconnected from the recoil drive system. For that purpose, an output shaft is fixed to the drive cup end wall instead of the auger shaft. The free end of the output shaft is designed to selectively connect to and disconnect from the auger shaft. In that manner, the dog-type recoil actuated auger of the invention may be broken down for easily transportation.

The method and apparatus of the invention, using just straight line motions by a person, thus enables holes to be drilled in an ergonomically satisfactory way. The probability of unsuccessful operation is remote, even though he may not have adequate strength to generate forceful circular motions with his hand, arm, and shoulder.

Other advantages, benefits, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention and studying the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in use at the start of a pull stroke of the recoil mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the invention in use at the end of a pull stroke.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 at the start of a pull stroke.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the recoil mechanism at initial contact of the dogs by the cam.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the dogs in their working locations.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the cam in contact with the dogs to pivot the dogs back to their retracted locations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention, which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

Looking first at FIG. 3, a dog-type recoil actuated auger 1 is illustrated that includes the present invention. The recoil actuated auger 1 is particularly useful for drilling holes in ice or earth, typically represented at reference numeral 9. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to outdoor related applications.

The particular dog-type recoil actuated auger 1 illustrated is comprised of an auger 3 connected to a manual recoil drive system 5. The auger 3 preferably has a sharpened end 6 opposite the recoil drive system 5. Operation of the recoil drive system causes rotation of the auger about a longitudinal axis 7 of the recoil actuated auger to drill into the ice or earth 9.

The auger 3 includes a shaft 11 around which is a helical band 13. The auger sharpened end 6 may be in the form of a knife 15.

In the preferred embodiment, the recoil drive system 5 is disconnectable from the auger 3. For that purpose, the auger shaft 11 has a socket 107 that receives an end 109 of a drive cup shaft 111, as will be explained shortly. A thumb screw 113 is used to hold the shafts 11 and 111 to each other and concentric to the longitudinal axis 7. In that manner, the dog-type recoil actuated auger 1 can be broken down for easy transportation.

The auger 3 is unidirectionally rotated by manual operation of the recoil drive system 5. Looking also at FIGS. 4 and 5, the recoil drive system comprises a housing 17 and a recoil mechanism 19. The recoil mechanism 19 may be generally conventional. However, it will be described in detail so as to provide a full explanation of and appreciation for the invention.

The housing 17 includes a flat plate 21 and a pair of tubes 23 and 25. Both tubes 23 and 25 are concentric with the longitudinal axis 7. The two tubes are joined to each other by a transverse disk 27. The tube 25 rotatably guides the shaft 111.

A handle 28 is attached to the housing plate 21. According to one aspect of the invention, the handle 28 is constructed with a pair of small plates 30 welded or otherwise attached to the housing plate (FIG. 3). A bar 32 is welded between two plates 34, which in turn are attached to the small plates 30.

The recoil mechanism 19 is comprised of a cover 29 that is secured to the housing plate 21 by bolts and nuts 31. On the cover 29 is a cover pin 33 that is concentric with the longitudinal axis 7. A rope wheel 35 is rotatable on the cover pin 33. The rope wheel 35 has a hub 36 with a transverse end surface 80. In the hub 36 are two first diametrically opposed surfaces 38 that extend generally radially from and parallel to the longitudinal axis 7. The hub also has two second diametrically opposed surfaces 40 that extend generally radially from and parallel to the longitudinal axis. The rope wheel further has a peripheral groove 37 around which is wound a rope 39. One end of the rope 39 is fastened to the rope wheel. The other end of the rope terminates outside the cover at a pull handle 41. A recoil spring 43 has a first end hooked to the cover, as to a pilot 46. The recoil spring 43 also has a second end hooked to the rope wheel, such as to an annular rib 48. The recoil spring biases the rope wheel to rotate in a first direction, designated by arrow 44, toward a wound position. When the rope wheel is at its wound position, the rope is wound on the rope wheel and the pull handle 41 is against the cover. Pulling the pull handle rotates the rope wheel in a second direction, arrow 97, against the force of the recoil spring and unwinds the rope from the rope wheel groove 37.

On the rope wheel hub 36 are a pair of short posts 45. On each post 45 is a dog 47. Each dog 47 has first and second ends 49 and 51, respectively, on opposite sides of the post. Each dog also has an outside surface 53 and an inside surface 59 between the first and second ends 49 and 51, respectively. On the outside surface 53 is a first step 55 and a second step 57. The inside surface 59 has a portion 61 near the first end. The dogs are pivotable on the rope wheel posts 45 in the directions of arrows 62 and 64.

Also on the cover pin 33 is a cam 63. The particular cam 63 illustrated is formed with a flat disk 65 and four bent-over tabs 67A-67D. Each tab 67A-67D has a first surface 71 and a second surface 73. The rope wheel 35 and cam are held on the cover pin by a D-washer 77 and retainer ring 79. A compression spring 75 between the rope wheel and the cam disk 65 presses the cam disk against the D-washer 77. For clarity, a clearance is shown between the cam disk, dogs 47, and rope wheel end surface 80. In actuality, the clearance is minimal.

A drive cup 81 is also part of the recoil mechanism 19. The drive cup 81 has an annular wall 83 and an end wall 85. Preferably, the annular wall 83 has a flange 87 at its end opposite the end wall 85. In the annular wall are a number of circumferentially spaced openings 89. Fixed to the end wall is the drive shaft 111.

The drive cup 81 fits mostly inside the housing first tube 23 such that the openings 89 are transversely aligned with the dogs 47. A thrust washer 91 is interposed between the drive cup end wall 85 and the housing disk 27. A collar 93 with a set screw 95 on the drive shaft 111 cooperate with the drive cup end wall to retain the drive cup and auger 3 to the recoil drive system housing 17.

FIG. 1 shows a person with the dog-type recoil actuated auger 1 at the start of an operating cycle. In that situation, the recoil mechanism 19 is as shown in FIG. 5, with the rope wheel 35 at its wound position. The dogs 47 lie generally inside a circular envelope defined by the cam tabs 67A-67D. There is a space S between the portion 61 of the inside surface 59 of each dog and the second surface 73 of the associated cam tab 67A or 67C.

At the start of an operating cycle, the person holds the recoil drive system handle 28 with one and and the rope pull handle 41 with the other hand. He exerts a force on the rope pull handle by pulling it with a straight line motion 101 in a pull stroke. Doing so rotates the rope wheel 35 in the direction of arrow 97. Initially, there is sufficient friction between the D-washer 77 and the cam 63 such that the cam does not rotate with the rope wheel. Consequently, the rope wheel, together with the dogs 47, acquire the position relative to the cam shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the rope wheel has rotated to take up the spaces S, and the portions 61 of the dogs inside surfaces 59 have contacted the second surfaces 73 of the cam tabs 67A and 67C.

Continued rotation of the rope wheel 35 causes the cam tabs 67A and 67C to pivot the dogs 47 in the direction of arrow 62, FIG. 7. The dogs inside surfaces 59 slide on the cam tab surfaces 73 from the portions 61 as far as respective portions 99 of the dogs inside surfaces. That action pivots the dogs to working locations, and the dogs first ends 49 approach and contact the first radial surfaces 38 in the rope wheel hub 36. At that point, there is a space S1 between the outside surfaces 53 of the dogs and the first surfaces 71 of the cam tabs 67B and 67D. Pivoting of the dogs to their working locations also causes their second ends 51 to enter two openings 89 in the drive cup 81.

When the dogs first ends 49 contact the rope wheel hub radial surfaces 38 no further pivoting of the dogs 47 relative to the rope wheel 35 is possible. Accordingly, continued rotation of the rope wheel under the impetus of the person continuing to pull the rope pull handle 41 forces the dogs, by way of their inside surface portions 99, to force the cam 63 to rotate in unison with the rope wheel. Simultaneously, the dogs inside surfaces at portions 115 force the drive cup 81 to rotate in unison with the rope wheel and thereby rotate the auger 3.

FIG. 2 shows the person and the dog-type recoil actuated auger 1 at the end of the pull stroke. The person then releases the rope pull handle 41, under control, with a straight line motion 103 in a return stroke. That action enables the recoil spring 43 to rotate the rope wheel 35 in the direction of arrow 44 (FIG. 7). Again, friction between the D-washer 77 and the cam 63 keeps the cam stationary at the start of the return stroke. The distances S1 are taken up such that the first step 55 on each dog 47 contacts the first surface 71 of the associated cam tab 67B or 67D, FIG. 8. Continued rotation of the rope wheel pivots the dogs in the direction of arrow 64 out of engagement with the drive cup openings 89 and back toward the dogs retracted locations. Pivoting of the dogs continues by the sliding of their outside surfaces 53 on the cam tabs first surfaces until the cam tabs first surfaces contact the dogs second steps 57. At that point, the dogs inside surfaces 59 have contacted the rope wheel hub surface 40, and the dogs cannot pivot further. As a result the dogs force the cam to rotate in unison with the rope wheel back to the start of the operating cycle of FIGS. 1 and 5, but without any rotation of the drive cup 81 or auger 3. The cycle is repeated as often as needed to drill the desired hole in the ice or earth 9.

It is an important feature of the invention that the auger 3 is rotated about the longitudinal axis 7 using only the straight line motions 101 and 103 of the persons's arm, hand, and shoulder. The problems associated with the multiple circular motions required for prior manual augers with offset handles is therefore eliminated. Even persons of modest strength are capable of drilling holes using the present invention.

As mentioned previously, the auger 3 is disconnectable from the recoil drive system 5 by means of the socket 107 and thumb screw 113. It will be appreciated, of course, that the auger shaft 11 and the recoil mechanism drive shaft 111 may be a single integral piece, if desired.

In summary the results and advantages of holes in ice and earth can now be more fully realized. The dog-type recoil actuated auger 1 of the invention provides both an ergonomically sound way to manually operate an auger 3 as well as unidirectional rotation of the auger. This desireable result comes from using the combined functions of the recoil drive system 5. The handle 28 provides a good grip for a person's first hand. The recoil mechanism 19 rotates the auger in response to straight line motions 101 and 103 of the person's second hand, arm, and shoulder. The person exerts the straight line motions on the rope pull handle 41 to selectively wind and unwind the rope 39 on the rope wheel 35. The cam 63 cooperates with the dogs 47 on the rope wheel to pivot the dogs between working and retracted locations. When in their working locations, the dogs engage the drive cup 81 and force it to rotate with the rope wheel, thereby rotating the auger. In a return stroke, the dogs pivot out of engagement with the drive cup back to their retracted locations, thereby allowing the rope to rewind on the rope wheel without turning the auger.

It will also be recognized that in addition to the superior performance of the dog-type recoil actuated auger 1 of the invention, its construction is such as to to be of modest cost in relation to the benefits it provides. Its ergonomically superior design more than compensates for any increased cost relative to prior ergonomically unsatisfactory manual augers.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a dog-type recoil actuated auger that fully satisfies the objects, aims, and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. 

1. A recoil actuated auger comprising: a. an auger; and b. means for manually unidirectionally rotating the auger about a longitudinal axis in response to a person exerting straight line motions with a first hand, arm, and shoulder of the person.
 2. The recoil actuated auger of claim 1 wherein: a. the auger comprises a shaft; and b. the means for manually rotating the auger comprises a recoil mechanism connected to the auger shaft.
 3. The recoil actuated auger of claim 2 wherein the recoil mechanism comprises: a. a rope wheel; b. a drive cup fixed to the auger shaft; and c. means for selectively engaging and disengaging the drive cup in response to rotating the rope wheel in first and second directions, respectively.
 4. The recoil actuated auger of claim 3 wherein: a. the recoil mechanism further comprises a rope wound on the rope wheel; and b. the person exerts the straight line motion on the rope and thereby rotates the rope wheel.
 5. The recoil actuated auger of claim 1 wherein the means for rotating the auger comprises: a. a housing that rotatably guides the auger; and b. a recoil mechanism connected to the auger.
 6. The recoil actuated auger of claim 5 wherein: a. the auger comprises a shaft; b. the housing comprises first and second tubes; c. the recoil mechanism comprises a drive cup that fits in the housing first tube and that is fixed to the auger shaft; and d. the housing second tube rotatably guides the auger shaft.
 7. The recoil actuated auger of claim 5 wherein the housing comprises a housing plate, and wherein a handle is attached to the housing plate, so that the person can grasp the handle with a second hand, and exert the straight line motion with the first hand, arm, and shoulder.
 8. The recoil actuated auger of claim 1 wherein: a. auger comprises an auger shaft; and b. the means for manually rotating the auger comprises: i. a drive cup having a drive cup shaft that is selectively connectable to the auger shaft; ii. a rope wheel rotatable in first and second directions; and iii. means for selectively engaging and disengaging the drive cup in response to rotating the rope wheel in the first and second directions, respectively, the drive cup rotating with the rope wheel when the rope wheel rotates in the first direction.
 9. The recoil actuated auger of claim 1 wherein: a. the auger comprises an auger shaft; and b. the means for rotating the auger comprises: i. a second shaft connected to the auger shaft; ii. a housing that rotatably guides the second shaft; and iii. at least one recoil mechanism including a rope wheel that rotates in first and second directions, the second shaft rotating in the first direction when the rope wheel rotates in the first direction, the second shaft being stationary when the rope wheel rotates in the second direction.
 10. Apparatus for drilling holes comprising: a. an auger; and b. a recoil drive system connected to the auger for unidirectionally rotating the auger.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: a. the auger has a first shaft; and b. the recoil drive system comprises a second shaft that is connected to the first shaft.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the recoil drive system comprises: a. a shaft connected to the auger; and b. means for unidirectionally rotating the shaft and thereby unidirectionally rotating the auger.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the recoil drive system comprises: a. a housing that rotatably guides the shaft; and b. a handle attached to the housing.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for unidirectionally rotating the shaft comprises a rope wheel that rotates in first and second directions, the shaft rotating in the first direction when the rope wheel rotates in the first direction, the shaft being stationary when the rope wheel rotates in the second direction.
 15. A method of drilling holes comprising the steps of: a. placing an auger in contact with a material to be drilled; b. connecting the auger to a recoil drive system; c. exerting a first motion on the recoil drive system in a first straight line direction and thereby rotating the auger in a first rotational direction; and d. exerting a second motion on the recoil drive system in a second straight line direction opposite the first straight line direction without rotating the auger.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein: a. the step of providing an auger comprises the step providing an auger with an auger shaft; and b. the step of connecting the auger to the recoil drive system comprises the steps of: i. providing the recoil drive system with a second shaft; and ii. connecting the auger shaft to the second shaft.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein: a. the step of connecting the auger to a recoil drive system comprises the step of providing a handle on the recoil drive system; and b. the step of exerting the first and second motions comprises the step of grasping the handle with a first hand and exerting the first and second motions with a second hand.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein: a. the step of connecting the auger to the recoil drive system comprises the steps of providing the recoil drive system with a housing, and guiding the second shaft in the housing; and b. the step of exerting the first and second motions comprises the steps of grasping the housing with a first hand, and exerting the first and second motions with a second hand.
 19. The method of claim 15 wherein: a. the step of connecting the auger to the recoil drive system comprises the steps of providing the recoil drive system with a rope wheel, and winding a rope around the rope wheel; and b. the step of exerting the first motion comprises the step of pulling the rope and thereby rotating the rope wheel in the first rotational direction.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein: a. the step of connecting the auger to the recoil drive system comprises the further steps of: i. fixing a drive cup to the second shaft; and ii. providing a rope wheel with at least one dog thereon; and b. the step of exerting the first motion comprises the steps of rotating the rope wheel in the first rotational direction, and engaging the at least one dog with the drive cup and thereby rotating the second shaft in the first rotational direction. 